[Since the
1881 portion of this newspaper has not been microfilmed, Bonnie Ekse has made it
her mission to
transcribe important items about the people and happenings of
1881 in Odebolt. ]
ODEBOLT OBSERVER
VOL. 2. NO. 7. AUGUST 17, 1881
--C. W. Sutton has sold his fine young horse to L. Treadway
--Mr. M. B. Lynch goes to Davenport his week on a visit.
--W. J. Summerwill left yesterday for the east to buy goods.
--Mr. Dunkleberger is behind the counter at the Red Front.
--The Professor now sings "She has left me sad and lonely," etc.
--A telephone connects the grain office and store of Winchell & Webster.
--Miss Guilbert, sister of Mrs. F. A. Winchell, returned Monday to her home in
Chicago.
--Chas. Waters, the nurseryman, returned Monday from a trip northward to
Emmetsburg.
--A bright little daughter arrived at the home of Wm. Buchanan and wife on the
15th inst.
--The addition to the office of Zane & Helsell has been covered with a tin
roof. Ketterer & Co. did the job.
--The new grain office of Henry Hanson is nearly completed. It is much larger
and more convenient than the old one.
--Miss Mattie Field, who has been visiting with the family of her uncle, Hon. W.
W. Field, left Monday morning for her home in Evanston, Ill.
--Since the gospel intemperance meeting the other night,
Alderman Flanders sings--
"Its all around my hat That I wears a green Ivy--"
--Sportsmen, with spotted dog, now thresh the stubble, while the mother hen with her half-grown brood, safely watch the operation from the adjacent grass.
--John Wright has bought the lots of Voight & Fairbanks on Second and Maple streets, opposite Mr. Wright's new bank building. The price paid for the lots andbuildings thereon was $2,500.
--Jacob Kalmar surprised his friends yesterday by appearing at the depot on the arrival of the Ida train and walking from thence to his home, leaning upon the armof his wife. His recovery may now be considered assured.
--Last week Geist & Buehler sold to Messrs. Tenny & Ballord [sic] a ten-horse-power engine with which to run their thresher. The engine took in water and wasfired up at the corner of Main and second streets, and started up. It climbed the grade without apparent effort, and went out into the country in fine style,drawing after it its water-tank. We hear that it works splendidly.
--We had not the good fortune to be present at what was styled the "gospel temperance meeting" at Masonic Hall last Sunday night, but if the proceedings werecorrectly reported to us, some parts of them at least, were highly sensational and interesting. If such speeches as that of Mrs. Ivey should disgust sensitivepeople they will at least attract the boys and men who will stamp and roar approval.
--Messrs. Wright and George returned from their trip east last Sunday morning, coming overland from Vail, which place they reached the previous Saturday evening.Our townsmen must have had a busy time, for in their ten day's [sic] absence they visited Chicago, Boston, New York, the White Mountains, saw Gen.Hancock, Conkling, Blaine and other distinguished and extinguished statesmen, and arrived home fuller, if possible of business vim and energy than before theyleft.
--If the managers of the gospel temperance meetings wish them to aid the real interests of temperance, instead of making them exhibitions of intemperatevituperation, and their actors the laughing stock of the town, they will suppress that part of the performance. There is such a thing, friends, as intemperate temperance, and it hasdone the cause of temperance more harm than any device of King Alcohol. If these are gospel temperance meetings, the scriptural injunction, "Be ye temperatein all things," should not be forgotten.
--We glean to this effect from the Battle Creek Times: Nothing further has been developed concerning the robbery of the express office at that place. There seemsto be no ground of suspicion against Mr. Moffitt, the agent…Miss Frank Heppner eloped with Greenberry Goin because she thought her mother imposedupon her. She had not returned at last accounts, and was supposed to be at Danbury. Mr. Goin returned to Battle Creek….A severe storm occurred there on the 5th,unroofing houses, upsetting outbuildings and scattering things generally.
A Burglary.
Last Sunday night the house of O. Volkert was entered by burglars while he and the other members of the family were asleep, and $60 or $65 taken from thepockets of his pants, where were lying near the bed. Nothing else of value was missed. The burglar or burglars entered easily by the door, which owing to theheat was left open, protected only by a mosquito bar.
The next morning it was found that a horse had been taken from the barn of W. Van Deusen. Whether this was the burglar's work or whether the horse escaped isnot certainly known, as the barn doors were left open on that night; but a vigorous hunt for the horse on Monday and yesterday failed to find it. There was no clueto the burglars or the horse at last accounts.
--Word has been received from Curt. Stoops, in Missouri, He has probably caught the train robbers before this time, as at last accounts he was close after them.
--On Monday of last week a hired man of Mr. E. A. Bennett's was thrown from a horse, breaking a leg and receiving other injuries. Dr. Groman was called whorendered medical assistance and the young man is getting along nicely.
--The floral decorations of Rev. Vail's pulpit last Sabbath morning, it being the anniversary of his engagement with his people here, attracted the notice of thecongregation from their great beauty. They consisted of a vase of white lilies, the offering of Mrs. Flanders, and two choice and well arranged bouquetsbestowed by Mrs. Rasmussen.
--The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Ninth District Editorial Association will be held at Webster City, Hamilton, county, Thursday, October 20th next. Mr. H. A.Burrell, of the Washington County Press, will deliver the address. The card of invitation says: "This will probably be the last gathering of the newspaper fraternityof the 'Old Ninth District,' and a full attendance is particularly desired on this, the farewell occasion."
--We have been asked by several persons since our last issue, what the proprietors of Shanksville paid us for writing up their town last week. We don't supposethere was anything like impertinence intended by the inquiry, and we will therefore reply that we have received nothing, nor did we expect remuneration ofany kind. There is always work of this kind for a newspaper to do and it never looks for compensation. Of course, if the proprietors of that embryotic [sic] hogmart should bring around a corner lot and insist upon our taking it, we would not refuse, but we beg to assure them that our little sketch of Shanksville was notinspired by the vision of eligible corner lots. If such had been the case--but it wasn't.
--Rev. S. N. Vail of the Presbyterian church, preached his first anniversary sermon last Sabbath morning. He reviewed the labors of the past year, showing a mostremarkable material advancement. When he was installed one year ago, the church had but a partial organization with a total membership of but 16 persons,and a Sabbath school attendance of only 14 scholars. The membership of the church is now 76 and the Sabbath school has 75 regular scholars with notless than a score of efficient teachers and officers. The society one year ago was without a place of worship of its own, it now has a neat and commodius [sic] churchentirely paid for, which cost over $3,000. Mr. Vail stated that in the year just closed he had preached one hundred and forty sermons and had traveled eighthundred miles. He congratulated the members of his church upon the large material prosperity with which providence had blessed their labors in the past year,and urged upon them the cultivation of spirituality commensurate with their temporal prosperity.
--The Ivy is reaching for our Mayor.
--A. C. McCracken, of De Witt, is at A. C. Reducer's.
--The plasterers have possession of Mr. Van Deusen's new house on the hill.
--District school will commence next Monday, the 22d, not the 29th as before
stated.
--The flood washed 500 loads of sand up into Iowa City, which the city is
disposing of at ten cents a load.
--By the way the gaudily painted threshing machines are being bought and conveyed into the country, we should judge there was plenty of work for them to do thisfall.
--Mr. J. H. Orcutt returned to his home in Clinton county last Thursday. He was delighted with Odebolt and the country about it, and thinks it not improbable thathe will at a future time make his home here. Click for photos of J. H. Orcutt
--A. M. Stevens, proprietor of the Stevens House, at Wells River, Vt., was in town last week. He came here expecting to make arrangements to open up theDelmonico hotel at this place. We did not learn how the negotiations terminated.
--We acknowledge a pleasant call on last Friday from Bro. C. A. Robertson, of the Mapleton Press. And by the way, the Press, always a good paper, has justbeen enlarged to an 8 column folio, and is a credit to its enterprising proprietor and to the pretty little town at the end of the branch.
--The freight and delivery wagon of the new firm of Winchell & Webster is a welcome innovation to the present non-delivery custom of Odebolt dealers. If wemistake not it opens a new era in this respect, for of course other dealers will not be far behind the new house in adopting a custom which will enhance their trade.The rig is as handsome and vastly more sensible than the famous "one horse shay."
--The train on which Messrs. Wright and George recently rode from Montreal to N. Y. City, over the Connecticut and Pessimistic river, Central Vermont, N. Y.Central and Hudson River roads, made the distance of 502 miles in 545 minutes, including stops. This beats Maple River time a little, but we can account for iteasy enough. That is such an all-fired poor country that travelers want to go through and out of it as quickly as possible.
--Last year, the OBSERVER offered a year's subscription for the smallest water melon. After a sharp contest and considerable fun the prize was awarded to Mrs.F. A. Ross, and the paper duly sent by her order to a distant friend. This year, we propose to change the programme and make it the biggest and bestwatermelon. The offer is open to all and the judges of award are to be water melon experts of high character. Roll the melons in as soon as they will do.
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Unclaimed letters remaining in the Post-office at Odebolt, Iowa, for the week ending Aug 13, 1881 Mrs. M. E. Anderson, L. J. Anderson, Mrs. Mary E. Anderson, J. R. Baron, 2, James Brombough, ________Bowles, G. Eherbrecht, Miss Allice Guem, Mrs. M. A. Henderson Geo Mackville, Tom Manes, W. VAN DEUSEN, P.M.
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Married--August 7th, 1881, at the residence of the bride's parents, in Calhoun Co., by Rev. G. W. Southwell, Mr. O. S. Parker, of Odebolt Iowa, and Miss JennieHulett.
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DIED.
In Odebolt, August 15th, 1881, of membranous croup, Oscar, son of Mel. and Emma Bennett, aged 5 years. Funeral services took place at the Presbyterianchurch, Tuesday. Rev. McCullouch [sic], assisted by Rev. Vail, officiated. Interred at the Odebolt cemetery.
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Mr. Thos. Thompson will occupy for the present the position of street buyer for us. WINCHELL & WEBSTER.
The Pappoose cigar is the best 5 cent cigar in the county and is
sold at the Red Front.
Pitted cherries and dried raspberries--crop of 1881, at the Red Front.
Warranted flour, $1.50 per sack at the Red Front.
A large line of Teas and Coffees just received at the Red Front.
California canned goods of all kinds at the Red Front.
--Pierce Coy started to Chicago yesterday with a shipment of
hogs.
--Attorney Coy and Deputy Sheriff Flack visited Sac City yesterday on legal
business.
--E. C. Smith, of Onawa, general agent for Iowa of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, was in town yesterday.
--Messrs. George & Coy have recently added to their law library a complete set of the Iowa Reports, making it now the largest library, except perhaps that ofJudge Duffy, in this part of the State
--Miss Bertha Hess, who has been spending vacation with the family of J. L. Reidesel of Battle Creek, will return home within the next fortnight, to be ready to enterschool again.
Fresh car load of Harrison wagons at Geist & Buehler's.
School books at Boardman's.
Eave Troughs and Spouting.
Ketterer & Co. will do the best job for the least money.
Call on them and leave your orders.
Those in want of a good harness, call at A. C. Reducer's.
Strayed or Stolen!
From the subscriber, at Odebolt, August 14, a white horse twelve years old, about 15 hands high, and blind in right eye. A suitable reward will be paid for anyinformation leading to his recovery by addressing SWAN NELSON, Odebolt, Iowa
ODEBOLT OBSERVER
Vol. 2. No. 8. August 24, 1881
--H. Langan, of Vail, was in Odebolt Sunday.--L. P. Morey, of Vail, visited Odebolt last Friday.
--J. G. Freeman, of Ida Grove, was in town Saturday.
--A. H. Holmes of Mapleton looked our city over Saturday.
--"Music hath charms," but sometimes "silence is golden."
--E. Finkbine of the Green Bay Lumber Co. was in town Saturday.
--Fletcher--the town of Fletcher has a flouring mill in prospect this season.
--Rev. H. T. Martin returned Friday from the M. E. District Conference at West Side.
--An addition to Mr. Webster's dwelling has just been completed, by Miller & Thompson.
--Mrs. Foote, mother of Mrs. A. C. Rodocker, is at present visiting her daughter here.
--W. Campbell and wife, of Nebraska, were visiting with the family of A. C.
Rodocker last week. --J. H. Winn, father-in-law of O. B. Francisco, returned
Saturday from a visit to friends at Newell.
--H. J. Muxen has just received a car load of ice from Denison, his supply
having become exhausted.
--A Cedar Rapids lady says she likes Clear Lake as a summer resort, because
ladies do not have to dress there.
--The new store of Winchell & Webster is receiving its goods and will be
open to the public in a few days.
--The W. C. T. Union meets this (Wednesday) evening at the Presbyterian church,
at 7:30. All are invited.
--Rev. D. M. Beams, of Alta, stopped here Friday on his way home from the
District Conference meeting at West Side
--Ballord [Ballard], the vegetable man, wants to know who stole his onions.
Better own up, boys, for the aroma will convict you.
--The warehouse of J. H. Ketterer & Co. is already nearing completion
under those energetic contractors, Graham & Conkling.
--F. A. Ross returned from Boone one day last week, accompanied by his sister,
who will remain here a few weeks with her brother's family.
--The editor of the De Witt Observer, himself a religious man and a Methodist, says: "Sunday camp-meetings do no good." --It has been generally supposed that Mr. Wright's bank would be moved to the new block when completed. We are informed, however, that the bank will remain where it is, and that both the store rooms in the new block have already been rented.
--Mr. C. B. Atkins, who has occupied the position of station agent at this place the past year has resigned the office, and Mr. R. W. Williams has been appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Atkins goes to Des Moines to enter a real estate office and has fine prospects before him.
--The location of the new railroad west from Sac City is, we understand, made dependent upon the aid which the northern townships in this county will vote. It is the impression here that they will any of them vote aid, if the road is located and stations established as desired. If the road is located, as now seems probable, on the line dividing the townships of Cook and Eureka, the nearest point to Odebolt on that road will be eleven miles.
--District court, Judge Duffie presiding, will meet at Sac next week.
--Mr. Jas. Ross returned Monday from a business trip into Crawford county.
--Rev. Fysh will take "The Second Coming of Christ" for his subject
next Sabbath morning.
--Curt. Stoops arrived home from Missouri Friday, much refreshed and built up by
his trip.
--Mine host Myrick of the Park House, Storm Lake, sampled the Odebolt House
refreshments on Monday.
--W. W. Stivers, who has been behind the counter at C. W. Sutton's during his
absence east, leaves soon for Greene county.
--Mr. J. W. Fraley, who has been quite ill for a week or ten days is now so far
recovered as to be about again. Dr. Groman attended him.
--Last Saturday's horse-race was a good one. McVicker's pony came in
first-best by a neck. Ben dropped in some wealth on the result.
--Mr. Jacob Kalmer is about again as spry and to all appearance as sound as
ever. It is no little tunk on the head like that can send Jacob under.
--Last Saturday Cornelius Shea showed us a handful of flax pulled from his field
the stalks of which measured forty-six inches in length. Next! --The temporary
delay in work on the Wright block, occasioned by the non-arrival of lumber is
now over, and the walls of the building are going up rapidly.
--In the show case of J. H. Ketterer & Co. was yesterday a fine sample of
Siberian crab apples, raised by Mr. J. P. Goreham, who lives a few miles south
east of town.
--Mr. A. B. Mason has severed his connection with the Wall Lake Journal as its
Sac correspondent. This is to be regretted as Mr. M. has the knack of being a
good correspondent.
--Van Deusen has found his hoss. A local in the OBSERVER did it. The horse
was taken up by H. B. Jordan, who saw in the OBSERVER where it belonged. Who
says it don't pay to advertise!
--Mr. W. T. Brown, the jeweler, whose illness from rheumatism we recorded last
week, is still in a very bad condition, and was Monday evening removed to the
residence of H. T. Martin.
--A Mr. H. B. Preston, of Grinnell, Iowa, has rented the Zane building on Second street, opposite the bank, and will put therein a stock of general merchandise. The room is now being prepared for it.
--The Cook and Eureka township people are getting quite excited over the proposed new railroad. The line is known as the Des Moines & Northwestern, running from Des Moines to Jefferson then to Rockwell City, Sac City, Correctionville and Sioux City. The prospects seem very good for the road and the farmers are willing to give them a good lift financially. The immense advantage to that part of the country that would accrue from the railroad can hardly be estimated now and especially so if the road should be a competing line to the North-Western.
--The Sac Sun has been leased by Mr. Miller for one year, to Mr. A. F. Goddenough, late of Rome, N. Y. While extending our bunch of fives in kindly welcome to the "tenderfoot," we cannot but regret that Bro. Miller finds it necessary to leave the tripod even temporarily, and hope that his change of occupation will give him the health he seeks. Bro. M. proposes to visit different parts of the county in the interest of the Farmers' Insurance Company, of which he is Secretary, and to "get something good to eat." We wish him success in both enterprises.
--It is hardly worth while to call attention to the announcement of the new firm of Winchell & Webster on this page, for our readers have no doubt seen it before they read this item. Messrs. W. & W. do not hide their light under a bushel. They give the utmost publicity to their business, and this policy, supplemented with such fair and honorable dealing as the character of the partners abundantly guarantees, will, we predict, give the house at no distant day a trade second to none in the place. They invite all to their grand opening on Saturday next, and the sight will be well worth seeing.
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Don't Forget The Opening Day,
Saturday, August 27th, 1881,
First and Second Streets,
Odebolt, Iowa.
Winchell & Webster.
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The City Election.
The election to be held on the 7th of next month, to decide the question of the annexation to Odebolt of the additions of Wheeler and Bangtown, has created very little agitation and the wisdom of the step is very generally conceded. Still, there are a few in the latter addition who talk against the project and use as an argument against annexation that, under it, they fear the establishment of saloons in that part of town. It strikes us the argument is not a good one. What is now to hinder the establishment of saloons in either of those additions? We in the city find it all we can do to control them with the aid of both State and municipal laws. Outside the corporation they would be under only the operation of the State law, and we all know how powerless that is to control them. It seems to us that the very best and about the only protection the additions can have against the establishment of saloons is in annexation, for then the municipal as well as the State law will apply to them. If annexation is defeated, it is more than probable that saloons will before long be started outside the present corporate limits and within the additions, where they will not only escape the $500 tax which the city law imposes, but will also escape the severe restrictions now imposed in the interest of good order and reasonable hours. It seems to us that looked at from any point, the additions have everything to gain and nothing to lose by the proposed measure.
--We announced last week, at the request of a member of the school board, that the public school would open Monday the 22d inst., but it seems it was a mistake after all. The school will open next Monday the 29th sure pop, unless there is some mistake about it this time. But better the children look a leetle out for the bell.
--Lawyer Coy was the other day the recipient of a fine gold ring, the occasion being the 24th anniversary of his natal day. He wears no glove on his left hand now, and what is still more strange, he is observed to always scratch his nose with the third finger of his left hand, though he has always been taken to be right-handed.
--A party of sports went out last Sunday after prairie chickens, in violation of the heavenly commandment and in defiance of the Iowa Statute. When about three miles out their horses ran away, upsetting the wagon, bruising the men, discharging one of their guns and killing their dog. And now comes the irate farmer in whose field they were hunting, and threatens prosecution for trespass and for violation of the Sunday law. The above is related to us as a terrible warning to prairie chicken Sabbath breakers.
--We are pleased that E. C. Suiter has become local editor of the Ida Pioneer. Ed is a good newspaper man and makes a readable local page...
--There have been several changes recently made among our grain and stock men, which are worthy of note: The business of F. A. Winchell is merged in that of Winchell & Webster, with Thos. Thompson as street buyer; H. F. Warneke on Sept 1st succeeds S. H. Parsons in the grain, stock and coal business, with Isaac Austin as street buyer; C. B. Hatfield will be found with Henry Hanson; while Hempen, a new man in the trade, sails in for choice car lots. Messrs. Shanks, Gardner, Ross, Bodine and others hold the stock trade level.
--The threshing steamer of Messrs. Ballard & Tenny was yesterday plunged into the creek 3/4 of a mile east of Chandler's corners, south-east of town, by the falling of the bridge. One man was slightly bruised. The engine was being drawn by a span of horses at the time. The bridge was on a public highway and the question with Mr. Ballard is, who is to pay the damage. It will be a difficult job to raise the engine, though it is not thought to be broken or seriously damaged.
--We regret to learn that Mr. John Heuston, now absent in Canada on a visit, has been seriously ill for several weeks. Mr. Dubbs informs us that he now looks daily for Mr. Heuston's return.
--Mr. M. C. Livingston yesterday presented the OBSERVER with the finest watermelon, and the hugest, we have seen this season. It is a formidable contestant for the prize--the OBSERVER for one year--but let no melon raiser be discouraged. The season is early, the competition is free and the moral character of the judges is only excelled by their esthetic taste for watermelon. A careful record will be kept of the dimension, weight, flavor, etc., of competing melons, and the result announced and the prize awarded at the proper time. Next!
--Perhaps our readers may not know the fact, but [it] is one, nevertheless, that there are only two legal highways into the town of Odebolt. A farmer coming from the north of town drives across the railroad track at the depot. This is not a legal road and it is permitted only by sufferance of the company, and in fact for two hours of the day is closed altogether by the trains, and that too at the busiest hours of the day, so that our farmer friends from the north, must either go west to Sanderson's and then come in to town on the road leading west from Second street or else go south from Mr. Sparks' to the cemetery then west and come to town on the road leading down from Main street. Those are the only ways to town legally. Farmers who do not care to wait sucking their thumbs on the north side of the track while two trains do their switching and unloading, naturally prefer to go to Ida Grove, Sac City or Storm Lake with their produce when the distance is nearly equal to Odebolt.
From Eureka
Last week was one of much interest to the people of Eureka. Judge Duffie came out to look up the railroad matters through here. A petition was circulated and the names of enough freeholders were procured to place the matter before the trustees and there is no doubt but the requisite aid will be voted. The Judge stated that if we did our part that within one year we will have a road through the township. Well, we need to have something to put new life in the people. They are becoming very much demoralized.
Either they have been reading too much of Bob Ingersoll's works, or those who have charge of the religious affairs have become very indifferent. First, it became very necessary to put a stop to the Sunday school, so they abandoned it, and then to suit the caprice of our young sports a Sunday ball club was organized, which has a larger attendance than our Sunday school. One thing should be noted, that our school teacher takes an active part in these Sunday games. We had presumed that the school teachers always presented credentials of good moral character, but alas! it seems our Superintendents don't make very close inquiries or they would surely find some of these fellows who violate the civil and moral law. We hope that whoever is elected this fall for Superintendent will make diligent inquiries into these matters.
There is at present too much bad whiskey used in this township to be profitable to the people. The OBSERVER needs a greater circulation here.
DIED
On Friday, August 19th, 1881, Anna, infant daughter of Donald and Mary
McCorkendale [McCorkindale], aged 10 months. The funeral services were held last
Saturday in the Presbyterian church, Rev. S. N. Vail officiating, and the
interment at the Odebolt cemetery.
Researched and typed from the original volume by B. Ekse
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